Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-08-26


There are some curious earthworks at Ware
ham, which are regarded by historians as
either British, Roman or Saxon. In the Ian |
guage of the guide books, There is quite |
enough of antiquarian interest at Wareham |
to render it worthy of more than passing |
visit" But as we were yet nearly twenty |
miles from Dorchester, passing visit was all |
that could he given. We had already done
nearly thirty miles that day over somewhat
unsatisfactory road A few miles further
along the Dorchester road. and We passed |
through village known by the curious narlc
of Wool. A communicative countryman
whom we met on the road said we ought to
stop here and see the ruins OF Brindon abbey.
Much as we should have enjoyed gazing on
the ivy grown walls of this abbey, we were,
without wishing to be disrespectful to the an
cient ruin obliged to decline. The fact is,
that thirty miles on a tricycle., over rough
road lessons ones ordor oven for abbeys.
Dipping a little southwark, we came within a
couple of miles of the coast, and at W arm
well the road took northwestern direction
to the ancient town of Dorchester.
Two tired mortas we were ascending the
steep High street of this old Roman town, an
avenue of high trees crcling 1t and Il remark
able Roman amphtheater on the outskirts.
,
miles. The first place that looked like
hotel we turned into, 1t was not a swell (.
fair. The hostler could not boast a nose, TIC
lanulady was deaf and the only servant WIS
lopsided ami crosseved. But these were
trilcs. They had a bed aud could give Us
bread and cheese and beer 1t was after 10
o'clock The tap room of our hostelry was
filed with villagers, drinking, smoking and
making a good deal of noise. One of the
number was reciting the "Charge of the Light
Brigade" with q strong Dorset dialect. In
spite of the noise down stairs | was glad
enough TO retro, and did so amidst the up
roarious confusion of the tap room below,
falling asleep amidst the volleys of applause
which followed the effort of the local celeb
rites to entertain tho village crowd.
Breakfasting at o'clock we took two or
three views, among others one of the Roman
amphitheatrc and Judge Jeffreys lodgings;
and taking the Bridport road began tolsome
ascent of the hills which abound in this part
of Dorsetshire. In many parts the roads were
six inches deep with loose flint stones and our
progress was slow. Although the distance to
Bridport was not over fifteen miles, it tool.
three hours to do it. BridpOrt was once f.
nous as manufacturing place, especially for
manufactures of hemp. "A "Bridport dagger
stabbed by Dridport dagger" was deli
cate way of saying a man had been hanged.
At the Bull we enjoyed a fine joint of roast
beef, q Ioy-poly jam pudding, with thick
| DorsetShirc cream.
| A few miles from Brilport is "Sweet
De'mister," and had made up my mind to
| take q glance at this beautiful little place in
the valley of the Brit and then proceed to the
| famous town of Lyme Regis in the far south
western corner of the county. Tho road to
Beamnster was not good, but an improve
ment on the morning ride. The praises o.
this quaint old Dorset village have been sun;
in the native dialect:
Sweet Be'mi'ster, that hist aboun'
By green an woody hills al roun,
Wi hedges reachin' up between
| A thousan' Wells of GUNNER green,
Wher elms lofty heads do drOw
Their shades var lawmakers below
And wild hedge flow RS do charm til souls
| y maidens in Their Cvenen stros.
Leaving this delightful place, which was an
hours run from Bridport we in part retraced
our steps, and soon after sundown wo We're
spinning down tho sharp decline leading into
Lymo Regis, to me the most interesting town
N all Dorsetshre. There was always q good
deal of rugged valor about Dorsetshirc people
Most of tho town espoused the parliament
tary cause, and tho people of Lyme Regis
made most gallant defense against Prince
Maurice. The farmer of Dorset used to say
in these rebelious times
Chill sell my cart, and exc my plow
And get a zwOrd if lch know how,
For Ith mean to be right.
LYME Regis is a sleepy little place nova
days, with narrow hilly streets, quaint gray
shops and houses q rather pleasant prone
nado along tho seashOre, and an extraordi-
nary breakwater called tho Cobb. Lyme
Regis is thoroughly ancient. There is no
railroad station within four miles, and moth
ing of a modern character is calculated TO jar
upon those who seek repose Sithin the walls
of Lymo Regis. But Lyme Regis has not
always been q sleepy old place in an out of
the way corner of England. Charles | sent
his troops there in 1914. Lyme Regis stood
the siege from the 2Olh Of April to tho 10th of
June The women of Lyme Regis fought
side by sido with the men, one woman using
fifteen muskets at ono attack. Another brave
maiden lost her hand but glored in it, and
offered the other for the peoples cause.
When Prince Maurice finally retired to Ike
ter no had lost some reputation "for having
lain so long with such strength before so vile
and untenablo q place as I.ymo Regis with
out reducing it." SO said the king. Many
years later Lyme Regis took hand in an
other rebellion, this time espousing tho cause
of the Duke of Monmouth. Tho unlucky
natural son of Charles ii pawned his jewels
for this expedition landed at Lyme Regis
and, they say, wetted his legs in landing, He
was well received in Lyme with twenty-six
virgins with colors, naked sword and Bible
A manifest asserting the validity of the
| marry mOnarchS marriage with Iucy Wal
tels, and denouncing James II and popery
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